Hegel-class frigate

The Hegel-class frigate is a class of ships of the line in the Union Naval Department. Intended to hang back from engagements and pound opposing fleets with overwhelming missile volleys in conjunction with the UND's Natalbany-class spotter corvettes, the Ouachita-class point-defense corvettes and the Tombigee-class EWAR corvettes, they are heavily missile-focused.

Propulsion

Hegel-class frigates use two D-³He thermonuclear reactors for both propulsion and power generation, mounting four exhaust bells in a diamond configuration. The prow of the class also mounts two medium-sized thrusters for deceleration, and sports sixteen smaller maneuvering thrusters along the hull. Most Hegel class frigates have, in recent years, been converted to use eutectic lead-bismuth alloy as a coolant, though this means that they need to be kept constantly running or risk solidifying the reactors.

Weapons & Armament

Hegel-class frigates typically mount one 250mm cannon, four 16-cell VLS missile launchers and a torpedo launch bay. Specifics are classified, but smaller UND ships of the line in the modern era typically carry a mixture of home-on-jam and semi-active missiles, relying on target illumination for missile guidance, and a mixture of AP, HE and HE-RPF (radio proximity fuse) rounds.

Armor and defense

Hegel-class frigates are heavily armored, and boast automatic compartmentalization. Hegel class ships also mount two 25mm point-defense turrets, to supplement dedicated fleet point-defense Tombigee-class corvettes.

Communication Tools & Systems

Hegel-class frigates incorporate an NHP presence, and can interface with other ships of the line in legionspace. Additionally, a standard omninet hook, encrypted VHF transceiver and tight-beam laser communicator are mounted.

Sensors

Hegel-class frigates mount a passive radar suite and a supplementary, dedicated fire-control radar for target tracking, unlike the multi-function arrays of the Evening class. While this makes target locks from a Hegel class obvious to the target, target locks from a Hegel class are nearly impossible to shake from ECM alone, and, paired with illuminators on Natalbany corvettes, makes for an overwhelming EWAR environment. Hegel-class frigates also mount orbital buoy trackers (OBT), inertial measurement units, gyroscopes and backup star tracking systems (STS) common to all exoatmospheric vessels in Union space. While considered quaint in the era of OBT/STS, the Hegel class, like all Union ships, mounts a periscopic fixed-indexing sextant system for emergency astrogation.

Additional & auxiliary systems

Like all UND ships laid down in the post-Sanjak period, the Hegel class is equipped with a WINDOW GLOW high-volume predictive tracking computer with an integrated IFF transponder.

Hangars & docked vessels

Hegel-class frigates mount one small shuttle for general utility use, as well as several lifeboats.

Used by

• A Continuation of Politics

Manufacturer

General Massive Systems

Owning Organization

Union Naval Department